Overview of Pyrolysis Experience in Canada

Overview of Pyrolysis Experience in
Canada
Fernando Preto
CanmetENERGY
Natural Resources Canada
IEA Task 34, Espoo, Finland
June, 2010
Industry/Government study has concluded that bioenergy and bioproduct opportunities are stronger economically and socially when
integrated within the traditional industry’s operations rather than
on a stand-alone basis. Pyrolysis (and gasification) generally
ranked at the top of the bioenergy opportunities.
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Companies with G/P Experience*
ƒ Gasification
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Enerkem
Norampac
Nexterra
Plasco
ƒ Pyrolysis
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ABRI Tech
Agritherm
Alterna
Dynamotive
Ensyn
Pyrovac
RTI
Titan
*Listed alphabetically
ABRI Tech
Single Auger Fast Pyrolysis
Modular Portable Units
•Joint venture between
Advanced Biorefinery Inc
(Peter Fransham) and
Forespect (Namure,
Quebec) fabricators.
•1 tpd portable “farm” &
“research” units built:
CanmetENERGY;
Saskatchewan Research
Council; AES BioEnergy,
New Zealand; US Forest
Service
5 tpd Mobile Pyrolysis Plant
•50 tpd units built for
Ontario and Iowa
(commissioing not
completed)
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ABRI Tech
50 tpd Portable Unit (Iowa)
Grinder / Drier
Reactor
Condenser
4 tpd
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4
Agri-therm Units:
1 - 10 tpd unit used for R&D
1 - 10 tpd unit shipped to Mexico
1 - 10 tpd unit being built as mobile laboratory
Maximizing Charcoal Yield
Alterna Biochar, Prince George, BC
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Alterna Biochar
W
ƒ Operated pilot “box” pyrolyzer ( = 5 – 10 min)
ƒ Successfully produced briquettes
ƒ Future efforts:
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Scale-up
Char pellets
Char gasification
Other char uses
Dynamotive
Fluid bed fast pyrolysis
“Biotherm” projects
include a 15TPD Pilot
Plant, a 130TPD Plant in
West Lorne, and a
200TPD Plant in Guelph
Orenda
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Ensyn “Utilization” Initiatives:
- Slow Diesel Testing (Manitoba Hydro)
- Commercial Burner Development (BMA & CanmetENERGY)
- Potential for District Heating CanmetENERGY Complex (3 MWth)
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PyroVac
Christian Roy, founder of PyroVac has since co-founded
Vaperma Inc, and is co-inventor of Siftek™ polymer membrane
technology. He is contemplating a return to the pyrolysis field
including application of membranes to separate water from
light soluble organics
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RTI – Resource Transforms Int. Ltd
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Principal Contact: Jan Piskorz
R&D and Consulting
Optimize pyrolysis (WFPP) for maximum liquid yields
Pathways for selective formation of market-oriented
specific chemicals: glycoaldehyde,
hydroxyacetaldehyde
ƒ “Bio-char mixes”
Titan Clean Energy (SK)
Organic Power (BC)
Slow Pyrolysis for Biochar…
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Government & Academia
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Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
CanmetENERGY (Natural Resources Canada)
National Research Council
Saskatchewan Research Council
ƒ Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal
ƒ University of Toronto
ƒ University of Western Ontario
ƒ
University of British Columbia and University of Saskatchewan
[Gasification of Bio-oil]
Principal Contact: Carlos M. Monreal
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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CanmetENERGY (Natural Resources Canada)
ƒ Principal Contacts:
ƒ Fernando Preto (Research Side)
ƒ Ed Hogan (Program Side)
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Nozzle and Burner Development
Pyrolysis Process Development
20 kg Batch Pyrolysis Unit
Catalytic Conversion and Emulsification
Financial and Technical Support for Industry
ƒ Pyrolysis Process Development
ƒ Feedstock and Product Characterization
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CanmetENERGY Bio-Oil Nozzle: External mix air assist atomiser. Fuel is injected
through a central pipe with a slight contraction at the tip allowing for a slight
pressure build-up to aid atomisation – Firing into tunnel furnace ~100 kg/h
Tote #1 Comb Air T = 46 C
Tote #1 Comb Air T = 117 C
Tote #2 - Plugged
Tote #2 –Modified Nozzle
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Saskatchewan Research Council:
Installing ABRI Tech 1 tpd Unit
Principal Contact: Darren Anweiler
Focus on Ag residues: Wheat & Flax Straw, Poultry Litter
Ecole Polytechnique de Montréal
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Principal Contact: Jamal Chaouki
Microwave Pyrolysis of biomass and wastes
Problems associated with chloride
Focus on “fluff” due to problems associated with
chloride and high metals content
ƒ 6 PhD and 2 post-docs
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University of Toronto
ƒ Principal Contact:
Murray Thompson
ƒ Burner development (Swirl &
Atomization)
ƒ Combustion of 80/20
bio-oil/ethanol mixtures
ƒ CFD Combustion model
ƒ Bio-oil upgrading
ƒ 4 Grad students + 2 in Fall
10 kW Burner
University of Western Ontario
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Principal Contact: Franco Berrutti
5 pyrolysis pilot plants ( 1-2 kg/h)
Valorization of different feedstocks
Primary “cheap” upgrading
Co-processing with fossil fuels
Catalytic pyrolysis
Gasification of pyrolysis oils
>10 students and pdfs
Principals in Agri-Therm
Research Instutute: ICFAR
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Thank You!
Fernando Preto
preto@nrcan.gc.ca
Tel: +1-613-996-5589
http://canmetenergy.nrcan.gc.ca/
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